Launching IssueMap.org with the FCC

We are excited to announce the launch of IssueMap.org with the FCC. IssueMap is a project to make it easier for citizens to create their own maps and share them widely. The process is super simple. You just need a spreadsheet or table of data that references a common geographic boundary and a set of values you would like to map to those boundaries. To start, we’ll be covering the most common boundaries – countries, USA (states, counties and congressional districts), and a collection FCC custom boundaries. We’ll be looking to add more boundaries so just let us know what your top picks would be!

Once you’ve found some data you can either upload the spreadsheet (.csv, .xls, .xlsx, .odf) or just cut and paste into the IssueMap text box. Many tables you find online can also be cut and pasted to create a map. The data just needs to be clean with the first row containing your attributes and the data beneath having the values and geographies you would like to map. Even if you muck it up a bit IssueMap will give you helpful errors to let you know where you went wrong.

Once you’ve loaded your data just select the boundary you would like to join to and the value you would like to map. Click “Create Map” and magic presto you have a thematic map. Share your map via Twitter, Facebook or email. Now anyone can grab your map as an embed, download an image, grab the map as KML or get the raw data as a .csv. Your map is now viral and it can can be repurposed in a variety of useful ways.

FCC is leading the charge for transparency and everything that has the public excited about the potential of Gov 2.0. While IssueMap is one small piece of the FCC’s phenomenal work we think it embodies the the ease of use and data portability that are the hallmarks of the FCC’s Reboot initiative. So, grab a spreadsheet and start mapping!

See the press release and a great intro video.